Enter To Win Cloth by Cassandra Ellis!

I had the treat of getting an advanced copy of the book Cloth by Cassandra Ellis. I am in love with it’s gorgeous photos and simple beauty of the projects.

Please read below for a review and make a comment as to what is your favorite textile to use or maybe one that you’ve always wanted to make something out of. One lucky winner will be picked to win Cloth by Cassandra Ellis.

Plus, stay tuned to the Sew News blog for a Meet the Designer interview next week with Cassandra Ellis and get another try at winning this book.

Cassandra Ellis is a designer and maker of high-end quilts and home wares. Originally from New Zealand, she now runs her own design studio where she teaches contemporary craft and interiors workshops.

This is a beautiful book. Not an ordinary DIY, craft/home dec book with spare, white back drop photos and cheeky text. Cloth is lush with rich, dreamy photos by Catherine Gratwicke and intelligent, thoughtful text (how may craft books open with a poem by Yeats?) It was a visual pleasure to look through the book. And, easy to image that I could and more importantly, would make the projects Ellis offers. Cloth is broken down in five sections: Cotton, Wool, Silk, Hide and Linen. There is a brief introduction to each textile followed by a short history, making this book part textbook, but in no way written in a dry, dull manner. Ellis tell the reader of the individual textiles production, current and past uses and as in the case of silk the different types. Of which there are many.

The projects are all relatively easy, from bags, to oven mitts, sachets, pillows, aprons, bedding and more. Many of the projects focus on reclaimed, vintage or thrifted fabric and textiles. But, all the projects would work well with modern fabric with clean, bold lines. Patterns are included in the book and the instructions are written in a clear and uncluttered tone. Measurements (for the advanced copy) are in metric. Each project ends with “Design Thoughts” with tips, ideas and ways to further embellish the project.

Also included is a helpful dye and tool kit section. Listing items needed to make the projects as well as equipment needed to dye textiles.

All the projects in the book make the most of the textile being highlighted. The instructions are easy to follow and there is a wonderful resource guide that contains links and addresses to further research textiles, antique fabrics and sources to find extraordinary fabrics to use for your own projects.

Cloth would be a welcome addition to any sewing or home decor library. If you would like to be entered to win a copy of Cloth please make a comment on what your favorite textile to work with is. One winner will be picked and announced next Friday.

I love quilting and so I use a lot of cotton fabrics! I also use cotton fabric to
wallpaper in my house, by using straight liquid fabric starch instead of paste.
My dining room was once completely done in toile; including walls, tablecloths
and chair covers.

i love wool, i love using it as it drapes so beautifully and i love wearing it because when its cold its so cosy i recently found a beautiful piece of wool and silk mix it is so light but I’m thinking it would be warm to wear i must find something to make with it soon!!!

I’m a cotton girl and loving every minute of it. What caught my eye was the toile on the picture. I buy a bit of every one I see. Just love them and how they work so well with so many other prints. Cotton happy!

I noticed the window treatment in the photo with the cat on the hassock. The dovet on my bed has that same print; I bought it at the Pottery Barn. I would love to know where to purchase that fabric. And… I would love to win this book!!

If it’s fabric I will find a way to utilize it!!
Just love playing with fabric and figuring out what to crate next.
On a Japanese path at present, sashiko, silk and aiming for a serenity and meditation
Mood with two of these quilts!

My favorite fabric to work on is cotton. It does just about anything and is made in so many forms: cotton knit, quilting cottons, heavy or light. I also like linens. I loved making a Christening gown out of Swiss batiste for my granddaughters and machine embroidering their names and dates of Baptism. I also like rayon challis — it has a great hand and a myriad of prints and solids. I just finished “T-shirt dresses” for my GDs. Superhero T-shirt fabric is the most difficult I’ve ever worked with. There had to be an easier way, I kept telling myself, but never found it. I’d love to have this book because I’m a fabric junkie who just loves cloth.